Overview

The popularity of sports around the world creates a wide variety of career options and ministry opportunities in sport management. A career in sport management can be very rewarding for those who love sports and are motivated to help others enjoy them.

The need for well-trained managers in sport organizations and businesses, athletic programs, community and private fitness clubs, ministry outreach, sport medicine, and sport media is vital. This major takes an applied learning approach to prepare students for the wide range of career options in sport management. Practical experiences, volunteer opportunities, and internships are emphasized to prepare the future professional for the ever-changing aspects of a career in sport management.

Courses

SMT1110 Introduction to Sport Management

An introduction to the field of Sport Management: this course allows the student to investigate the various career options and curriculum choices in Sport Management.

SMT2050 Risk Management in Sport

The nature of today’s litigious society makes it imperative that the sport management student be familiar with the special issues of law related to sport. Topics include tort law, risk management, contract law, the legal system, and facility supervision. Special emphasis will be given to current legal issues and application of risk management principles.

SMT2310 Sport Business

This course is the beginning course for the study of the business of sport. The course emphasis will be on business practices as related to the operation of sport organizations. Budgets and marketing in sport will be key components of this course.

SMT2320 Facility Management

In this course the student will study the entire scope of facility management including facility planning, construction, budgeting, facility operations, and facility supervision.

Faculty

Darrell L. Johnson, B.S., M.A., Ed.D.

Professor of Sport Management

Education History

B.S. in Physical Education, Grace College; M.A. in Physical Education, Kent State University; Ed.D. in Sport Sociology, The University of Alabama

About

Dr. Darrell Johnson is the Director of the Sport Management Program. He is an active member in many professional organizations including AAHPERD, NASPE, AAPAR, IAHPERD, and NASSM. He has presented at numerous State and National Conventions and Meetings on different sport management and physical education topics. Dr. Johnson is very active in major sports events by volunteering himself and encouraging his students to also be involved. Some of his recent experiences include the 2013 President’s Cup, the 2012 Super Bowl, the 2011 Big Ten Football Championship, the 2012 PGA Senior Championship, and the USGA Senior Open. He regularly leads a group of students on a one-week trip to Atlanta, Georgia to study African-American culture and the rich history of African-American athletes. As a student, he was a pitcher on the Lancer's baseball team and currently holds the record for the most wins in a career and the most wins in a season. In 2009, he was inducted into the Grace College Athletic Hall of Fame.

James C. Kessler, B.S., M.Ed.

Associate Professor of Sport Management

Education History

B.S. in Health and Physical Education, Grace College; M.Ed. in Physical Education and Exercise Science, University of Missouri

About

Grace College students are fortunate to learn from Jim Kessler, the head coach for the Lancers men's basketball team. “Coach K” has been at the helm of the Lancers basketball program and part of the school’s faculty since 1975. One of the winningest active coaches in the nation, Kessler is a graduate of Grace College where he had a four-year playing career with the Lancers men’s basketball team. In addition to coaching, he teaches coaching courses for the Sports Management Program and methods courses for the School of Education. Coach K and his wife, Susanne, have four grown daughters and reside in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Heather Johnson, B.S., M.B.A.

Adjunct Professor of Sport Management/Head Softball Coach

Education History

B.S. in Business Administration, Psychology and minor in Communications, Grace College; M.B.A., Lenoir-Rhyne University

About

"Coach Johnson" brings a diverse background to the Sports Management Department. Coach Johnson is the most decorated softball athlete to attend Grace. After graduation, she proceeded to get her M.B.A. at Lenoir-Rhyne University while serving as the Facility and Special Events Manager of the Division II Athletic Program. After several years of coaching high school and raising her family, she has returned to Grace as the Head Softball Coach to help rebuild Grace's softball program. In addition to coaching, she teaches Facility Management and Marketing for the Sports Management Program. Heather and her husband, Jay, have three children and reside in Warsaw, Indiana.

Roger B. Bingham, B.S., M.B.A., D.M.

Associate Professor of Management

Education History

B.S. in Business Administration , University of Dayton; M.B.A., University of Dayton; D.M., University of Maryland

About

Roger Bingham comes to Grace College with more than 16 years in higher education. Prior to his current position, he served in leadership roles in the Ivy Tech community College system covering Student Affairs, finance and facilities. Dr. Bingham has also worked for private industry and the federal government. His family includes his wife and three teenage children.

Careers

Some of the positions you can obtain:

Sports Executive

Responsible for the team's finances, as well as overseeing the other departments within the organization such as marketing, public relations, accounting, ticket sales, advertising, sponsorship, and community relations. A sports executive also works to establish long-term contracts and develop support within the communities where the team plays.

Fitness Manager

The Fitness Manager is responsible for the overall function of the Personal Training department and its profitability. Recruit, hire, develop, train, and supervise qualified Personal Training staff. Assisting with club profitability via revenue generation and expense management.

Missionary

Immersion within and forming relationships with the people of another culture with the purpose of sharing Christ in word and in deed. Often times missionaries will form relationships through the application of their gifts and talents, meeting the needs of the people within the culture. Those talents may be in the areas of construction, agriculture, literacy, teaching, or business to name a few.

Sports Instructors and Coaches

Demonstrate and explain the skills and rules of particular sports like golf, tennis, basketball, football, or gymnastics. They may work with individuals or with organized teams at all levels of competition from beginners to professionals.

Sports Physicians

Treat patients who have sustained injuries to their muscular skeletal systems during the play or practice of an individual or team sporting event. Sports Physicians work for schools, universities, hospitals, or professional organizations.

Sports Psychologists

Work with amateur and professional athletes to improve their mental and physical health to promote stronger athletic performances. They also work with athletes in preparation for upcoming competitive events. Researching psychologists conduct studies that provide scientific facts and statistics related to an athlete's performance.

Sportswriters

Cover the news in sports for newspapers, magazines, and online media outlets. Research original ideas or follow up on breaking stories, interviewing coaches, players, owners, and managers for comments.

Testimonials

What others are saying:

The professors in the School of Business make a sincere effort to get to know students on a personal level. Team oriented projects helped me to realize how I play a part with teams and what role I play in these groups. Not only did I learn about the business world through my academic experience at Grace College; I learned about myself, time management, and how management of self is of high importance. The School of Business does a good job of preparing students for 'real world' in business.—Hayley Cashier, B.S. General Business/Business Administration, 2012

The teaching in the School of Business at Grace College is excellent. The professors expect excellence from the students and they work to help the students achieve it. The professors have also given me the business knowledge and the application to translate it to the real world. Team oriented projects, student organization invlovement and other professionally related activities were the most valuable in allowing me to apply the things I have learned.